Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Improvement Funding.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

140 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the way in which the Eastern Health Board will raise the £16 million necessary for the improvement of James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15089/96]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

141 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the reason James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is the only hospital being requested to fund £4 million to upgrade the hospital through the rezoning and sale of its land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15090/96]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

142 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding required to carry out the entire improvement works at James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15091/96]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

143 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the required improvement works to James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [15092/96]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

144 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health whether a paediatric unit will be provided in James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15093/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 together.

In January 1995 the Eastern Health Board requested a meeting with me to discuss the future development needs of James Connolly Memorial Hospital and on the 16 February 1995 a meeting took place between myself, the Minister of State Deputy Austin Currie, and a delegation from the Eastern Health Board. Having taken the views of the Eastern Health Board into account and the fact that no significant upgrading had taken place in 40 years I agreed that the hospital required major development. The board indicated that it was prepared to utilise funds from the sale of some surplus land in order to provide funding towards this development. On this basis, I agreed in principle to participate and to match the funding being provided by the board on a £1 for £1 basis to a maximum of £8 million. The board has identified the need for a new accident and emergency department, intensive care and coronary care units and new ward accommodation and these are being addressed in the new development.

In relation to the disposal of surplus land on the James Connolly Memorial site, the Eastern Health Board has advised me that it has recently applied to Fingal County Council for a variation of the county development plan to have the land re-zoned for development purposes.

Regarding the provision of paediatric services at the hospital, these services in the Dublin area are provided at three sites, at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, Temple Street Hospital and the National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street, which will be moving to Tallaght. Hospital services for children are provided at these specialist sites so that children in need of hospital care can be assured of the best possible service. However, in the event of an emergency, children are treated in James Connolly Memorial Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department and when their condition is stabilised they are transferred to the appropriate children's hospital.

This is the first major injection of funds at James Connolly Memorial since the hospital was completed in the 1950s. There is a large amount of development required and all requirements cannot be met in this initial development. The hospital will, however, have a programme of development to ensure that all areas of the hospital will be brought up to the highest standards of accommodation available in any of the other hospitals in the country. A project team is now addressing the detailed planning of the new development and the measures leading to the appointment of a design team are now under way. I am happy to be associated with this major development plan for the hospital which I hope can be expedited in order that patients and staff of the hospital can enjoy top class facilities and services.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

145 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the funding provided for improvements to hospitals in the country during each of the years 1995 and 1996. [15094/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The capital funding made available by my Department in 1995 in respect of hospital development was of the order of £74 million.

It is not possible at this stage to give a precise figure for 1996.

Other funds provided for improvements to hospitals are:

	1995	1996
	£m	£m
Health and Safety funds	1.6	0.77
Information Technology	3.6approx.	5.2approx.
Enhancement of acute hospital services and the development of new services	26.725	19.565

Robert Molloy

Question:

146 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health whether any health boards, other than the Eastern Health Board, have been requested to raise finance for hospital improvements from their local budgets. [15095/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The funding of hospital improvements by health boards from their budgets is a standard procedure applicable to all boards. It is also policy to oblige all boards, as part of their estate management function, to identify assets which may be surplus to requirements, to dispose of these to the best advantage and to use the proceeds to fund priority developments in the health services. Health boards have been particularly successful in the implementation of this policy in relation to the development of alternative services for persons with psychiatric illness.